Disclaimer: I'll have to warn you that I am cleaning up two old computers; which can be interesting to say the least. I have come across miscellaneous things that I have written over the years and thought this would be a good place to put them. I started a lot of different articles and then never pitched them anywhere (bad girl). I will be posting them here for your reading enjoyment.
First
Impressions
As
they say, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” I’m not exactly sure who "they" are? I
actually think that saying came from a deodorant commercial. Nonetheless, it is, for the most part,
true. When someone meets you for the
first time they are judging you based on all kinds of factors, such as:
Dress. Are you a good or a bad dresser? Do you dress conservatively, trendy, or
sloppy?
Eye contact. Do you meet their gaze or look away?
Hygiene. Are you clean? Do you have bad breath? Did you wash and comb your hair?
Manners. Are you rude or polite?
Behavior. Are you drunk?
Do you swear like a truck driver?
Are you loud and obnoxious? Do
you act like a know-it all? Are you evasive?
Posture. Do you stand up straight or do you slouch?
Intelligence. Can you carry on a conversation well? Do you have good grammar?
Body language. Do your movements and gestures express how
you feel?
People
can decide whether or not they like you within five minutes of meeting you. They are watching and if they don’t like what
they see, that impression is bound to last.
That’s why it’s very important to make sure you figure out how you want
people to perceive you, and act accordingly. Let people see your benefits; the more you
have to offer the more friends you’ll have and the more your company will be in
demand.
Tips on how to make a good
first impression:
Learn to see yourself as
others see you. Don’t assume that others see
you as you see yourself. You may think
that you’re the cats meow but you have to prove that to others.
Know your audience. You obviously want to make a different
impression on the different types of people you encounter. For example, you want to make a different
impression during a job interview than you want to make on a first date. What may impress a potential employer will
probably not impress your date and vice versa.
Handshake and greeting. Initiate the handshake and make it firm. Introduce yourself and repeat their name by
saying “Nice to meet you Tom.”
Smile. Smiling makes
you appear warm and friendly. Smile often.
Talk clearly. Don't mumble.
Make eye contact. Making
eye contact makes you appear confident; avoiding eye contact makes you appear
shy and insecure.
Stand up straight. Good and bad posture can bee seen across the
room. Standing up straight shows
confidence and slouching is makes you seem insecure and uncomfortable.
Be enthusiastic. Studies show that enthusiastic people are
better liked, more trusted, thought to be more capable and capture the
attention of their audiences more effectively.
Ask questions. It shows that you are interested in getting to
know someone.
Listen. I mean, really listen. Asking questions is only part of the equation; people want to feel heard.
Make comments and participate. Share your point of view with others and
engage in conversation.
Offer compliments. People love when you notice positive things about them.
Be sincere. Sincerity is transparent, if you aren’t
sincere people will see through it.
Disclose information about
yourself. Be open with your opinions and let people get
a sense of who you are. On the flip side, don't force your opinions on people. Make sure it flows with the conversation, and if your opinion is radical or could cause tension it might be a good idea to keep it to yourself.
If
you keep these tips in mind your bound to make a good impression on everyone
you encounter.
Good luck!
